Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday dismissed reports of a rift in the United Negros Alliance, which could lead to the vice governor’s running for the province’s top post in 2013, as mere speculation and rumor mongering being perpetuated by the media.

“The problem of our nation is too much politics when there is so much work yet to be done,” said Marañon, who heads the United Negros Alliance and the Nationalist People’s Coalition in Negros Occidental.

With elections a long way off, we should focus on how to boost production to get our people suffering from hunger out of poverty, he said.

Marañon said Negros Occidental that is rich in land conducive for agriculture and good climate, has no reason to be short in production of crops to keep its people free from hunger with proper focus.

Mayors Juliet Marie Ferrer of La Carlota City, Jose Maria Alonso of Pontevedra, Mario Magno of San Enrique and Rommel Yagore of Valladolid and Bago Vice MayorNicholas Yulo, who were with the governor in Valladolid yesterday, said they would throw their support behind him if he runs for reelection in 2013.

“I will be 120 percent behind the governor,” Magno said.

Speculation is that Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr. could run for governor in 2013 with former San Carlos Mayor Eugenio Lacson as his running mate, with the backing of some congressman unhappy with Marañon.

Alvarez and Kabankalan Mayor Isidro Zayco, former Negros Occidental governor, met with Ambassador Eduardo Cojuangco, UNA and NPC founder, last week without Marañon.

Marañon, when asked about that meeting, told the media to ask the vice governor about it as he was not there. The governor said the last time he met with Cojunagco was before his birthday, and he also greeted him on his birthday, but they did not talk about politics.

Last week the governor said UNA would name its bets for 2013 in about two weeks. Yesterday, he said, it would be too early to make an announcement with the elections in May next year yet.

Marañon said he did not have a rift with the vice governor who was even with him yesterday at the demonstration of a rice harvester in Valladolid town.

Alvarez yesterday said politics was not discussed during his meeting with Cojuangco last week.

Asked if he would run for governor, Alvarez said the decision on whom to field in 2013 will be based on a consensus reached by members of UNA.

Meanwhile, some groups have reportedly been urging former Negros Occidental Governor Rafael Coscolluela to run for governor in 2013.

“People ask me and I try to tell them I don’t have plans. They don’t believe me,” Coscolluela said.*CPG

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